World Literatures in English
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course offers opportunities for analysis and reflection on a broad spectrum of literary proposals, covering texts from various parts of the world, provided they are written in English. The perspective through which world literatures are analysed and the critical and theoretical framework are defined in the specific syllabi. All courses aim to provide basic literary and historical knowledge of the texts examined and teach students to contextualise, critically analyse and engage in dialogue with the literary works under scrutiny
Expected learning outcomes
During the course, students will acquire basic historical and literary knowledge of the texts on the reading list; they will also learn to analyse them from a formal- and content-related point of view and situate them in their cultural contexts. At the end of the course, students will be able to place a literary work in its historical and cultural context, critically analyse it, and make comparisons with other texts under analysis, in line with the critical framework provided in class.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course, entitled "Animals and the Anthropocene. Stories from Five Continents", explores an area of ecocritical literary studies that focuses on the relationship between human animals, non-human animals, and the environments inhabited by both. The literary texts in the syllabus come from various parts of the world and offer a range of stimulating proposals to think and re-think the way in which humans conceive, and therefore represent, their connection with other living beings and the planet Earth. Literary works register those encounters in various and intriguing ways: we will explore them together in class.
Parts A and B are compulsory; Part C, though not compulsory, is fully integrated into the ecocritical and ethical approach of the entire course and is therefore highly recommended.
This syllabus is valid until February 2026.
Parts A and B are compulsory; Part C, though not compulsory, is fully integrated into the ecocritical and ethical approach of the entire course and is therefore highly recommended.
This syllabus is valid until February 2026.
Prerequisites for admission
The course — entirely in English — and the primary and secondary bibliography require a good knowledge of English, both oral and written, as well as a basic knowledge of the English classics. The course is not recommended for first-year students.
Teaching methods
The course deploys the following teaching methods: lectures with close reading and textual analysis; whenever possible, videos, images, and music will also be employed. Students will be asked to take an active part in the critical reading of the texts; they should, therefore, be willing to read some works during the course.
Teaching Resources
1) Manfred Jahn, "Narratology 2.2: A Guide to the Theory of Narrative", 2021 [Free online].
2) Video: "Lecture by Peter Singer at Unimi, 03-06-24", https://video.unimi.it/media/2020
3) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
4) TEXTS OF LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM: see the detailed syllabus uploaded on the course Team.
5) In addition to this reading list, students will study all materials uploaded on Teams before or during the course.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: Besides this reading list, students who do not attend classes must study supplementary critical materials. It is mandatory to refer to the detailed syllabus on the course Team.
LITERARY TEXTS
Part A
1. Passages from the "King James' Bible, Authorised Version".
2. William Caxton, 1484, a selection from Subtyl Historyes and Fables of Esope. England - tales.
3. Charles Perrault, 1697, "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Le petit chaperon rouge"). France - tale.
4. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, 1812, "Little Red Cap" ("Rotkäppchen"). Germany - tale.
5. Hilaire Belloc, 1896-97, a selection from "The Bad Child's Book of Beasts" and "More Beasts". UK, French born - poems.
6. Charles G.D. Roberts, 1937, "Those Perish, These Endure". Canada - poem.
Part B
1. Angela Carter, 1979, "The Company of Wolves". UK - short story.
2. Anne Sharpe, 1985, "Not So Little Red Riding Hood". Ireland - short story.
3. Alden Nowlan, 1996, "Weakness". Canada - poem.
4. Caryl Churchill, 2000, Far Away. UK - drama.
5. The following titles from: Among Animals. The Lives of Animals and Humans in Contemporary Short Fiction, Ashland Creek Press, 2014-16.
a. Akers, "Beyond the Strandline". USA
b. Armstrong, "Litter". New Zealand
c. Hart, "It Won't Be Long Now". Canada
d. Malerich, "Meat". USA
e. Ryan, "Greyhound". USA
f. Interviews: Each story has an interview with the author, which must also be read [Free online].
g. Book review: Sascha Morrell, "Among Animals: The Lives of Animals and Humans in Contemporary Short Fiction", 2014 [Free online].
6. Mbozi Haimbe, 2021, "Shelter". Zambia - short story.
Part C
1. Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book. UK - tales.
2. Noor Inayat Khan, Twenty Jataka Tales. India - tales.
3. R.K. Narayan, A Tiger for Malgudi. India - novel.
2) Video: "Lecture by Peter Singer at Unimi, 03-06-24", https://video.unimi.it/media/2020
3) LITERARY TEXTS: see the reading list below.
4) TEXTS OF LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM: see the detailed syllabus uploaded on the course Team.
5) In addition to this reading list, students will study all materials uploaded on Teams before or during the course.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: Besides this reading list, students who do not attend classes must study supplementary critical materials. It is mandatory to refer to the detailed syllabus on the course Team.
LITERARY TEXTS
Part A
1. Passages from the "King James' Bible, Authorised Version".
2. William Caxton, 1484, a selection from Subtyl Historyes and Fables of Esope. England - tales.
3. Charles Perrault, 1697, "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Le petit chaperon rouge"). France - tale.
4. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, 1812, "Little Red Cap" ("Rotkäppchen"). Germany - tale.
5. Hilaire Belloc, 1896-97, a selection from "The Bad Child's Book of Beasts" and "More Beasts". UK, French born - poems.
6. Charles G.D. Roberts, 1937, "Those Perish, These Endure". Canada - poem.
Part B
1. Angela Carter, 1979, "The Company of Wolves". UK - short story.
2. Anne Sharpe, 1985, "Not So Little Red Riding Hood". Ireland - short story.
3. Alden Nowlan, 1996, "Weakness". Canada - poem.
4. Caryl Churchill, 2000, Far Away. UK - drama.
5. The following titles from: Among Animals. The Lives of Animals and Humans in Contemporary Short Fiction, Ashland Creek Press, 2014-16.
a. Akers, "Beyond the Strandline". USA
b. Armstrong, "Litter". New Zealand
c. Hart, "It Won't Be Long Now". Canada
d. Malerich, "Meat". USA
e. Ryan, "Greyhound". USA
f. Interviews: Each story has an interview with the author, which must also be read [Free online].
g. Book review: Sascha Morrell, "Among Animals: The Lives of Animals and Humans in Contemporary Short Fiction", 2014 [Free online].
6. Mbozi Haimbe, 2021, "Shelter". Zambia - short story.
Part C
1. Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book. UK - tales.
2. Noor Inayat Khan, Twenty Jataka Tales. India - tales.
3. R.K. Narayan, A Tiger for Malgudi. India - novel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam: it consists of an oral interview assessed in thirtieths; 18/30 is the passing score.
The interview will ascertain the capacity of students to read and translate the literary texts in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase the same in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary context of both texts and writers proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical abilities (their capacity to analyse the literary works, and to connect different authors, texts and literary trends). To take the exam, it is mandatory to bring along all literary texts listed in this syllabus.
It is possible to take the exam in English and Italian (in the latter case, at least one or two answers must be given in English).
The final score is expressed in thirtieths; students may accept or reject the mark (in that case, the record will be "ritirato", and they will have to retake the whole exam in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
The interview will ascertain the capacity of students to read and translate the literary texts in the course syllabus (non-Italian students will be asked to paraphrase the same in English); their knowledge of the historical, cultural, and literary context of both texts and writers proposed; their knowledge of the literary works proposed; their critical abilities (their capacity to analyse the literary works, and to connect different authors, texts and literary trends). To take the exam, it is mandatory to bring along all literary texts listed in this syllabus.
It is possible to take the exam in English and Italian (in the latter case, at least one or two answers must be given in English).
The final score is expressed in thirtieths; students may accept or reject the mark (in that case, the record will be "ritirato", and they will have to retake the whole exam in a future session).
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Also students with disabilities should contact the teacher to agree on alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent office.
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Iannaccaro Giuliana, Vescovi Alessandro
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday, 16:30-19:30, either in person or on Teams. Please send me a mail in advance to make an appointment.
Piazza S. Alessandro 1, Anglistica; or Microsoft Teams Platform
Reception:
Every Friday 2:30 pm. Please use the form to reserve a position.
Teacher's office or Microsoft Teams. For a different arrangement please see the form